Mobile generator

ABSTRACT

A mobile generator includes a housing having a top portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, wherein the first side portion includes an energy-receiving component. The mobile generator also includes an arm pivotally coupled to the housing at a first pivot point and to the first side portion at a second pivot point. A first motion controller is configured to drive rotation of the arm about the first pivot point, and a second motion controller configured to drive rotation of the first side portion about the second pivot point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/137,660, filed Dec. 30, 2020, and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/955,508, filed Dec. 31, 2019, the entire contents ofeach of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Deployment of generators, including those that rely on solar power togenerate energy, is often a time consuming and labor-intensive task.Even setting up a small solar power generator may take between 2-30days, requiring a group of skilled workers to construct and install thesolar power generator before the solar power can be used to produceenergy. Additionally, current generators do not provide standardinterior solutions to use the energy generated by the generators.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments, a mobile generator includes ahousing having a top portion, a first side portion, and a second sideportion. The first side portion includes an energy-receiving component.The mobile generator further includes an arm pivotally coupled to thehousing at a first pivot point and to the first side portion at a secondpivot point. The mobile generator further includes a first motioncontroller that drives rotation of the arm about the first pivot point,and a second motion controller that drives rotation of the first sideportion about the second pivot point.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile generator according to oneembodiment, illustrating a fully stored state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile generator of FIG. 1 ,illustrating a fully deployed state.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the mobile generator of FIG. 2 ,with portions removed to further illustrate the mobile generator.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective view of a mobile generator according toanother embodiment.

FIGS. 7-9 are perspective views of a mobile generator according toanother embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components set forth inthe following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limited.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a mobile generator 10having a trailer 14 and a housing 18 that is positioned on top of thetrailer 14. The trailer 14 includes a hitch 22 that may be coupled tothe back of a vehicle, and a wheeled flatbed 26 that extends behind thehitch 22. In other embodiments the trailer 14 may have shapes and sizesother than that illustrated (e.g., embodiments that include or do notinclude the hitch 22, and embodiments where the shape or size of thehitch 22 and/or flatbed 26 is different than that illustrated). In someembodiments, the trailer 14 is omitted entirely, and the mobilegenerator 10 may include only the housing 18 and its associatedcomponents. In such embodiments, the mobile generator(s) 10 may betransported and delivered on site (e.g., lifted and then lowered intoplace onto a ground surface as needed).

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4 , in the illustrated embodimentthe housing 18 has a rectangular box-like structure, although otherembodiments may include a square-shaped housing, a trapezoidal-shapedhousing, or any other desired shape. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 , thehousing 18 defines an interior portion 30, and includes a front portion34, a rear portion 38 disposed opposite the front portion 34, a bottomportion 42, a top portion 46 disposed opposite the bottom portion 42, afirst side portion 50 coupled to the top portion 46, and a second sideportion 54 coupled to the top portion 46. The housing 18 may be madepartially or entirely from metal, stainless steel, carbon fiber,fiberglass, wood, plastics, synthetics, or other suitable materials.

In the illustrated embodiment the front portion 34 is a solid,stationary wall that includes at least one electronic component 58(e.g., controller, circuitry, or other electronic component as seen inFIG. 3 ) facing the interior portion 30 of the housing 18. The rearportion 38 includes two pivotable doors 62 (FIG. 2 ) that open and closeto expose and close off the interior portion 30. The bottom portion 42(FIG. 3 ) is another solid, stationary wall, or floor, that rests forexample upon and may be fastened to the wheeled flatbed 26. In someembodiments the bottom portion 42 is instead part of the wheeled flatbed26 itself.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4 , the mobile generator 10 includesat least one portion that is configured to receive energy from anexternal environment and to generate power and/or electricity from thatenergy. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the top portion 46,the first side portion 50, and the second side portion 54 are walls orframed structures that include one or more solar panels 66 or otherenergy-receiving components attached thereto that receive energy fromthe sun and convert the energy from the sun into electrical energy. Thesolar panels 66 may form a fully integrated array having an inverter,charge controller, solar combiner, battery storage, and electronics,making them fully operable upon opening. In some embodiments, the topportion 46, the first side portion 50, and/or the second side portion 54include an assembly of metal tubes or bars that are covered with metalsheets. The solar panels 66 may be coupled to the metal tubes and/ormetal sheets. The top portion 46, the first side portion 50, and thesecond side portion 54 may have various other shapes and sizes than thatillustrated, and may be formed partially or entirely from a wall orwalls, or a frame or frames.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4 , the mobile generator 10 mayinclude only a single portion (e.g., the first side portion 50) thatreceives energy, or only two portions (e.g., the first side portion 50and the second side portion 54) that receive energy. In yet otherembodiments the mobile generator 10 may include more than three portionsthat receive energy (e.g., the top portion 46, the first side portion50, the second side portion 54, and one or more of the front and rearportions 34, 38). Other embodiments include different numbers andarrangements of energy-receiving portions than that illustrated.

While the illustrated embodiment uses solar panels 66 to collect energyfrom outside of the housing 18, in other embodiments one or more otherenergy-receiving components may be used. For example, the mobilegenerator 10 may include one or more wind-powered components on the topportion 46, the first side portion 50, and/or the second side portion 54that receive energy from the wind and convert the energy intoelectricity. The mobile generator 10 may also or alternatively includeone or more components that receive light energy, electromechanicalenergy, electromagnetic energy, infrared energy, and/or electricalenergy.

The energy received by the energy-receiving components may be sent forexample to the electronic component or components 58, and may be storedin the electronic component 58 or used immediately on-site to providepower and/or electricity. For example the electronic component 58 mayuse/transfer the energy from the solar panels into a voltage for useimmediately on-site. In some embodiments, the interior portion 30 of thehousing 18 includes equipment that is powered by the energy collected bythe energy-receiving components. For example, the housing 18 may includeequipment related to or forming part of an office, warehouse/storage,refrigerator, medical clinic, pharmacy, waterfiltration/pumping/air-to-water generation station, retail store,communication center, disaster preparation/recovery office, library,classroom, military equipment, or electrical vehicle (EV) chargingstation. In some embodiments the housing 18 additionally includes awireless communications equipment 68 (FIGS. 3 and 4 ) that is connectedto the electronic component 58 (e.g., to an electronic circuitry of theelectronic component) for receiving and/or transmitting at least onewireless communication signal.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4 , at least one of theenergy-receiving portions is movable relative to the rest of the housing18 between a fully stored state and a fully deployed state. In the fullystored state the energy-generating portion does not receive energy fromoutside the housing 18, whereas in the fully deployed state theenergy-generating portion receives energy from outside the housing 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first side portion 50 and the secondside portion 54 are each movable between a fully stored state (FIG. 1 )and a fully deployed state (FIG. 2 ). As illustrated in FIG. 2 , whenthe first side portion 50 and the second side portion 54 are in thefully deployed state the solar panels 66 are exposed to the environment,and thus to sunlight outside the housing 18. In contrast, and asillustrated in FIG. 1 , when the first side portion and the second sideportion 54 are in the fully stored state the solar panels 66 face theinterior portion 30 of the housing 18, and thus do not collect anysunlight. In other embodiments the fully stored state may be a statewhere at least a portion of the first or second side portion 50, 54 isstill exposed to sunlight and is collecting sunlight. In the illustratedembodiment, the top portion 46 continues to remain in a fully deployedstate regardless of the positions of the first and second side portions50, 54, although in other embodiments the top portion 46 may also bearranged to move between a fully stored state and a fully deployedstate.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4 , in the illustrated embodimentthe first side portion 50 and the second side portion 54 each rotateabout a plurality (e.g., two) separate sets of pivot points to movebetween the fully stored state and the fully deployed state. Themovements of each of the first and second side portions 50, 54 aresimilar. Therefore, reference is made only to the first side portion 50.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 , the housing 18 includes a first set ofpivot points 70 generally located in upper corners of the housing 18,and the first side portion 50 includes a second set of pivot points 74located generally centrally along side edges 78 of the first sideportion 50. The mobile generator 10 further includes a set of arms 82(e.g., T-joint metal arms) that are each rotatably coupled at a firstend 86 to one of the pivot points 70 and at an opposite second end 90 toone of the pivot points 74.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , in some embodiments the housing 18 includesan internal wall 94 that includes one of the first set of pivot points70, and the front portion 34 includes the other pivot point 70. Each ofthe pivot points 70 may be defined for example by a hinge structure(e.g., bearing) protruding from the internal wall 94 and front portion34, respectively. In some embodiments the pivot points 70 are defined byone or more metal plates that are welded/bolted to the top portion 46 ofthe housing 18. The arms 82 may be rotatably coupled to the pivot points70 via pins or other structures. For example, in some embodiments thefirst end 86 of each arm 82 may be installed by inserting a metal pinthrough the hinge structure of the pivot point 70, which allows it topivot at the pivot point 70.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 , each of the second set of pivot points74 may include for example a protruding hinge structure that extendsfrom the side edge 78 of the first side portion 50. As with the firstset of pivot points 70, the second set of pivot points 74 may includevarious types of hinges or hinge structures. The second ends 90 of thearms 82 may be rotatably coupled to the second set of pivot points 74,for example, via pins.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4 , one or more motion controllers may be usedto control the pivoting movement of the first side portion 50 about thepivot points 70, 74 (and/or control pivoting movement of the second sideportion 54 about its corresponding pivot points). In some embodimentsthe motion controller or motion controllers include at least one of ahydraulic cylinder, rotary hydraulic actuator, hydraulic power unit,electronic actuator (linear or rotary), electric or manual winch,electric motor (e.g., powered by hydraulic power units or an electricsource), chain, steel tubing, fitting, and/or sprocket. The electroniccomponent 58 may include for example a controller that may be usedand/or programmed to control the motion controllers. Alternatively, themotion controllers themselves may include one or more controllers (e.g.,microcontrollers) that are used and/or programmed to control the motioncontrollers.

For example, and with reference to FIG. 4 , in the illustratedembodiment the mobile generator 10 includes a first motion controller 98(illustrated schematically) that is coupled to both the housing 18(e.g., to a corner of the housing 18, to the front portion 34 or therear portion 38, and/or to any other portion of the housing 18) as wellas to one or more of the arms 82 that are coupled to the first sideportion 50. When the mobile generator 10 is in the fully stored state asseen in FIG. 1 and the first motion controller 98 is activated, the arms82 are pivoted about the first pivot points 70, and the first sideportion 50 is generally raised (e.g., 90 degrees) away from the rest ofthe housing 18. In this position, the solar panels 66 are facing downtoward the ground surface. In some embodiments the first motioncontroller 98 is coupled via a pin to the housing 18, allowing it topivot with the pivoting motion of the arms 82.

With continued reference to FIG. 4 , the mobile generator 10 mayadditionally include a second motion controller 102 that is coupled toone of the arms 82 as well as to the first side portion 50. When thesecond motion controller 102 is activated, the first side portion 50 isrotated (e.g., 180 degrees) about the second pivot points 74 relative tothe arms 82, and into the position shown in FIG. 2 where the solarpanels 66 are facing upwards toward the sunlight. In some embodimentsthe second motion controller 102 may be coupled via a pin to the arm 82,allowing it to pivot with the pivoting motion of the first side portion50.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 , the activation of the first motioncontroller 98 and the second motion controller 102 may occursimultaneously, such that as the first side portion 50 is being pivotedand lifted by the first motion controller 98, the second motioncontroller 102 is also rotating the first side portion 50 about thesecond pivot points 74 so that the solar panels 66 face upwardly. In yetother embodiments the activation takes place sequentially, or with apause or gap in time between the movements. Additionally, while a singlefirst motion controller 98 and a single second motion controller 102 areillustrated schematically for the first side portion 50, in otherembodiments the mobile generator 10 may include use of multiple firstmotion controllers 98 and/or second motion controllers 102 to move andpivot the first side portion 50. As described above, the second sideportion 54 may be moved and pivoted in a similar manner to the firstside portion 50, with its own associated motion controllers similar tothe first motion controller 98 and the second motion controller 102. Insome embodiments, the mobile generator 10 may include only a singlefirst motion controller 98 that is coupled to both the first sideportion 50 and the second side portion 54 to move each simultaneously.

FIGS. 5-9 illustrate other variations of a mobile generator. Forexample, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a mobile generator 110 that is similarto the mobile generator 10 described above. The mobile generator 110includes a wheeled housing 114 that is smaller, however, and includesless internal structure than the housing 18 seen for example in FIGS.1-3 . FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a mobile generator 210 that is similar to themobile generator 10 described above. The mobile generator 210 includes ahousing 214, however, having benches or seats that may be folded out orinto the housing 214, as well as an office space or workspace availableinside the housing 214. As described above, the mobile generators may beused for a variety of different purposes. Accordingly, their housingsmay be adapted as need to accommodate the different intended purposes.

Overall, the mobile generators described herein may be deployed in aneasy-to-use manner, and may be set up for example in less than 15minutes (times may vary). Deployment of the mobile generator may requirelittle to no training, and the mobile generator may additionally requirelittle to no maintenance throughout its lifetime. In some embodiments,no on-site labor is required for installation at all, and each mobilegenerator may be pre-configured with an interior standard solution toutilize the energy produced. In other words, each mobile generator maybe designed or otherwise used for a particular purpose and energyneeded. For example, as described above, the mobile generator may beused for an office, warehouse/storage, refrigerator, medical clinic,pharmacy, water filtration/pumping/air-to-water generation station,retail store, communication center, disaster preparation/recoveryoffice, library, classroom, military equipment, or an electrical vehicle(EV) charging station. In some embodiments, one or more mobilegenerators may be used to generate off-grid solar power in varioussettings ranging from weather emergencies, disaster relief, medial aid,and military transport of supplies. The mobile generators may bothgenerate power for immediate use, as well as store power for future use.Other embodiments include different interior standard solutions or usesthan those listed.

In some embodiments, the mobile generator 10 may form or otherwise bepart of a nanogrid. The mobile generator 10, or the nanogrid of which itis a part, may operate in isolation as an off-grid energy solution, maybe connected for example to a main electrical grid, or may have a hybriduse (i.e., both off-grid and grid applications). Additionally, becauseof the pivoting movement of the energy-generating portions of the mobilegenerator 10 described above, the solar panels 66 may be securely lockedand moved away from the exterior of the mobile generator 10 duringnon-use to inhibit damage, and may be quickly deployed and used whenneeded.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the inventionas described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile generator comprising: a housing having atop portion and a side portion, wherein the housing defines an interior;an arm pivotally coupled to both the top portion and the side portion;an energy-receiving component coupled to the side portion; wherein theside portion is movable relative to the housing and the arm between afully stored state and a fully deployed state, wherein in the fullydeployed state the energy-receiving component is configured to beexposed to sunlight, and wherein in the fully stored state theenergy-receiving component is configured to face the interior of thehousing.
 2. The mobile generator of claim 1, wherein theenergy-receiving component includes a solar panel.
 3. The mobilegenerator of claim 1, wherein the arm is a first arm, and wherein asecond arm is pivotally coupled to the housing.
 4. The mobile generatorof claim 1, further comprising a trailer, wherein the housing ispositioned on the trailer.
 5. The mobile generator of claim 4, whereinthe trailer includes a hitch and a wheeled flatbed extending from thehitch, wherein the mobile generator is configured to be moved from afirst location to a second location via the trailer.
 6. The mobilegenerator of claim 1, wherein the housing has a rectangular box-likestructure.
 7. The mobile generator of claim 1, wherein the housingincludes a front portion that includes at least one electronic componentcoupled to the energy-receiving component.
 8. The mobile generator ofclaim 1, wherein the arm is configured to be rotated 90 degrees about afirst pivot point, and wherein the side portion is configured to berotated 180 degrees about a second pivot point.
 9. The mobile generatorof claim 1, wherein a motion controller is coupled to both the housingas well as to the arm, and wherein the arm is configured to be rotatedabout a pivot point from a first position to a second position when themotion controller is activated.
 10. The mobile generator of claim 1,wherein a motion controller is coupled to both the arm as well as to theside portion, and wherein the side portion is configured to be rotatedabout a pivot point from a first position to a second position when themotion controller is activated.